2024 witnessed some path-breaking achievements & breakthroughs as Ministry of Defence (MoD), marched ahead with renewed vigour to make India a strong, secure, self-reliant & prosperous nation, as envisioned by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. Shri Rajnath Singh assumed the office of Raksha Mantri for the second consecutive term in June this year and under his leadership, the Ministry reaffirmed its resolve to work in the priority areas to realise the vision of self-reliance in Defence. Some of the major highlights of 2024 include:
India-China border consensus
India and China achieved a broad consensus to restore the ground situation in certain areas along the LAC. Both countries have been holding talks at diplomatic and military levels to resolve the differences in some areas along the LAC. As a result, a broad consensus was developed on the basis of equal and mutual security. Raksha Mantri, during the Chanakya Defence Dialogue on October 24, 2024, described the consensus as proof that continuous dialogue brings solutions.
Aatmanirbharta in Defence
Positive Indigenisation List: To boost Aatmanirbharta in defence & minimise imports by DPSUs, Department of Defence Production in July, notified the fifth Positive Indigenisation List (PIL) consisting of 346 items. These include strategically-important Line Replacement Units/Systems/ Sub-systems/Assemblies/Sub-assemblies/Spares & Components and raw materials. Earlier, four PILs comprising 4,666 items were notified by the DDP for DPSUs, of which 2,972 items, having import substitution value worth Rs 3,400 crore, have already been indigenised. These five lists for DPSUs are in addition to the five PILs of 509 items notified by the Department of Military Affairs. These lists include highly-complex systems, sensors, weapons and ammunition.
Record Defence Production: MoD achieved the highest-ever growth in indigenous defence production in value terms during Financial Year (FY) 2023-24, on the back of successful implementation of the policies and initiatives of the Government. The defence production went up to a record-high figure of Rs 1,26,887 crore, reflecting a growth of 16.7% over the defence production of the previous financial year. The value of defence production in FY 2022-23 was Rs 1,08,684 crore. Of the keseluruhan value of production in 2023-24, about 79.2% has been contributed by DPSUs/other PSUs and 20.8% by the private sector. The knowledge shows that in terms of absolute value, both DPSUs/PSUs and private sector have recorded a steady growth in defence production. MoD has set a obyek to achieve Rs three lakh crore defence production by 2029.
Record Defence Exports: Defence exports touched a record Rs 21,083 crore (approx. US$ 2.63 Billion) in the FY2023-24, a growth of 32.5% over the previous fiscal when the figure was Rs 15,920 crore. The figures indicated that the exports grew by 31 times in the last 10 years as compared to FY 2013-14. The defence industry, including the private sector and DPSUs, have made tremendous efforts in achieving the highest-ever exports. The private sector and DPSUs contributed about 60% and 40% respectively. Raksha Mantri has exuded confidence that the obyek to export defence equipment worth Rs 50,000 crore by 2029 will be met.
C-295 TATA Aircraft Complex: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish President Mr Pedro Sanchez jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing of C-295 transport aircraft at TATA advanced systems limited Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat in October 2024. In September 2021, MoD had signed a Rs 21,935-crore contract with Airbus Defence and Space SA, Spain for supply of 56 aircraft – 16 to be brought in fly away condition from Spain and 40 to be built in India by TASL. Of the 16 aircraft, six have already been inducted into IAF at 11 Sqn based at Vadodara. The last would be delivered by August 2025. The first Made-in-India C-295 is expected to be rolled out of the Final Assembly Line facility at Vadodara by September 2026 and the remaining by August 2031.
Indian Light Tank: Indian Light Tank (ILT) ‘Zorawar’ has achieved a major milestone by firing a number of rounds at different ranges at an altitude of more than 4200m (High Altitude Location) with consistently accurate results. This was subsequent to the Phase I trial in desert environment in September 2024. This light tank has been defined, designed and developed by Combat Vehicles Research & Development Establishment, the Chennai-based laboratory of DRDO for the Indian Army. It is manufactured by the Industry Partner Larsen & Toubro Precision Engineering & Systems.
During the field trials conducted in the desert terrain, the Light Tank demonstrated exceptional performance, efficiently meeting all the intended objectives. In the initial phase, the tank’s firing performance was rigorously evaluated and it achieved the required accuracy on designated targets.
Major Inductions/Commissioning
INS Arighaat: The second Arihant-Class submarine ‘INS Arighaat’ was commissioned into the Indian Navy on August 29, 2024 at Visakhapatnam in the presence of Raksha Mantri. The construction of INS Arighaat involved the use of advanced design and manufacturing technology, detailed research & development, utilisation of special materials, complex engineering and highly skilled workmanship. It has the distinction of having the indigenous systems and equipment which were conceptualised, designed, manufactured & integrated by the Indian scientists, industry and Naval personnel. The technological advancements undertaken indigenously on this submarine make it significantly more advanced than its predecessor Arihant.
INS Tushil: INS Tushil (F 70), the latest multi-role stealth-guided missile frigate, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in the presence of Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh at the Yantar Shipyard in Kaliningrad, Russia on December 09, 2024. It is an upgraded Krivak III class frigates of the Project 1135.6 of which, six are already in layanan – three Talwar class ships, built at Baltiysky shipyard, St. Petersburg, and three follow-on Teg class ships, built at Yantar shipyard, Kaliningrad. INS Tushil, the seventh in the series, is the first of the two upgraded additional follow-on ships, the contract for which was signed in October 2016 between JSC Rosoboronexport, Indian Navy and the Government of India. Armed with a range of advanced weapons, it is designed for blue water operations across the spectrum of naval warfare in all four dimensions – air, surface, underwater and electromagnetic.
LCH Prachand: Induction of all Light Combat Helicopters LSP was completed in February 2024. IAF personnel were vigorously trained on the system and the LCH successfully participated in Ex Gagan Shakti in April 2024.
Major Acquisitions
To provide substantial boost to the Indian defence industry and reduce foreign spending significantly, Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) and Defence Procurement Board (DPB), during 2024 (upto November), accorded Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) for 40 Capital Acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 4,22,129.55 crore. Out of these, AoNs for Rs 3,97,584.34 Crore (i.e. 94.19 %) have been accorded to be procured from indigenous sources. These include:
DAC, in September 2024, accorded AoN for 10 capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 1,44,716 crore. These include procurement of Future Ready Combat Vehicles, Air Defence Fire Control Radars, Dornier-228 aircraft, Next Generation Fast Patrol & Offshore Patrol Vessels.
DAC, in February 2024, accorded approval for AoN for various capital acquisition proposals amounting to Rs 84,560 crore. The proposals include new generation anti-tank mines, Air Defence Tactical Control Radar, Heavy Weight Torpedoes, Medium Range Maritime Reconnaissance & Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, Flight Refueller Aircraft & Software Defined Radios.
In July 2024, DAC approved capital acquisition proposals including procurement of Advanced Land Navigation System for Armoured Fighting Vehicles of the Indian Army and 22 Interceptor Boats with latest state-of-art system for the Indian Coast Guard.
DAC, in December 2024, accorded AoN for five capital acquisition proposals amounting to over Rs. 21,772 crore. These include procurement of Water Jet Fast Attack Crafts, Fast Interceptor Craft, Electronic Warfare Suite, Next Generation Radar Warning Receiver, Advanced Light Helicopters for surveillance in coastal areas.
Major contracts
MoD inked a contract with the US Government for Tri-Service procurement of 31 MQ-9B Sky/Sea Guardian High Altitude Long Endurance Remotely Piloted Aircraft System (RPAS) in October 2024. Another contract was signed with General Atomics Global India Pvt Ltd for Performance Based Logistics for these RPAS through Depot Level Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul in India.